So here's the good news... Groupon is now in the Philippines, which means that we can avail of even more sweet deals like 50% off on spas, restaurants, clothes, and even fitness classes. I attended Groupon Philippines' launch at Robot Restaurant last February 9, 2011 and got a good preview of what they have in store.
We got to sit down with Groupon Philippines founder Lori Villafuerte at the event. She briefly explained how it all works. Basically, a merchant can have a deal at Groupon Philippines with absolutely zero cash out. The merchant can set a target, say if at least 20 people buy, the deal goes live. That way, the merchant can still make a profit due to the volume of sales. Groupon in the meantime, makes money through a percentage from each sale it makes. If the minimum number of buyers isn't reached, the deal doesn't go live and no one loses anything... so if there is a deal you really like, you're encouraged to share it with your friends so that it turns on and everyone can avail of it. It's a win-win situation for the merchant, Groupon, and the online shopper who can buy a variety of products and services at a huge discount. 
I got to taste some of the food offered at Robot Restaurant that day. I had spicy tuna roll, teriyaki chicken, creamy dory fillet, cha han (Japanese fried rice), and a small cup of smoked tomato soup. It was all very good. I was especially impressed by the teriyaki chicken. I don't like chicken but this one was perfect. The skin was crispy while the meat was tender and flavorful. :D
Lori announced that Groupon acquired Beeconomic Philippines, so now it's officially Groupon Philippines. She made it clear that Groupon Philippines only features deals from establishments that they themselves would buy from, so all the deals pass through a stringent quality check. If for example it's a restaurant, Lori and her team would go visit, sample the food, and even go as far as to check the rest rooms. It's really all about quality -- it doesn't matter if your product, service, or establishment is new or unknown.
Although at the moment, Groupon Philippines is only featuring Metro Manila-based deals, the long-term goal is to eventually have deals in major cities all over the Philippines. The plan is to have one new deal a day. Lori the queen bee and her hive are busy as bees working on it. :)Check out Groupon Philippines today at http://www.beeconomic.com.ph! I'll be documenting my own actual experience purchasing and availing of a Groupon Philippines deal in the coming days. :D
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